C.S. Lewis quote: “It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly right harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad.

I have discovered in my life that life has ways of nudging us toward our next steps because we become too comfortable where we are and it may hinder our growth. I was just reading this week the story of a young man who was 40 years old, he ran into a little girl who was crying. When he asked why she was crying she said that she had lost her doll. He was never married, nor did he have any children of his own and it became his plight for the next few months to relieve this girl’s pain about the loss of the doll. He made it look like the doll was traveling far away and he began to send notes to the girl from various destinations from the doll. The notes would keep her aware of what the doll was doing etc. Then one day the man saw the girl again, this time he had brought her a new doll. Though the girl was very happy to have this doll, she quickly said, this is not the same doll. With this the man said, that the places she had been made her change the way she looked. The girl embraced the doll like it was her new friend. The man died the next year. The girl grew up and one day discovered that inside the doll was another note, it read: ” Everything you love will probably be lost, but in the end, love will return another way.” Embrace change, it’s inevitable for growth. Together we can shift pain into wonder and love, but it is up to us to consciously and intentionally create that connection. Franz Kafka (1883-1924)

I know myself, I needed help to create this connection. Life sometimes hands us pain and disappointments-of course many other good things as well. Pain may take us way off course and even cause us to resist change because of fear. Asking Jesus into my heart has caused me to have that creative connection, to trust Him -that it’s good to grow and most necessary to change so that growth may happen. Jesus wants to adopt you as His sons and daughters, He died for every one of us and rose again so that our lives could be changed for evermore, reach out to Him today, let Him help you to change.

We are free to choose many things for ourselves, this is a gift.

2 Corinthians 3:17 reads: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. “Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Our constitution begins this way:” We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

Our nation was founded by men and women who had a passion to live free, and to remain free. Our God has always declared over His people that we should not let ourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Now I believe this means slavery to any other person, place, habit, lifestyle or thing. In this nation, we do celebrate many more freedoms than in other nations for this I am truly grateful.

“We seek peace, knowing that peace is the climate of freedom.” Dwight D. Eisenhower

As we celebrate the birthday of our nation, we must never forget the many sacrifices that have been made by all our descendants, our brave family members who stood boldly for our nation and it’s continued freedom. Thanks to the thousands and blessings and love to all those families who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Martin Luther King Jr. quoted: “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor, it must be demanded by the oppressed.”

Nelson Mandela quoted:” For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

The ultimate way to receive freedom is to allow Jesus Christ, Who died and rose again for every one of us to have freedom in Him; to break every chain from you and surrender all of your pain and sin to Him, “He who the Son has set free is free indeed!!”Ask Him to transform your life today.

Happy Birthday America!!

Loneliness impacts us physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, “the effects are distinct enough to be measured over time.” Quote by Marano. God is moved on behalf of those who feel deeply isolated even in the presence of others. Grief can be desperately lonely, we all grieve many different things all through our lives: people, relationships, jobs, communities, afflictions, assaults, losses of every kind.

Elijah’s state of mind as he fled from Jezabel was one of great despair and grief, he asked the Lord if he could die-forgetting about the miracles that he had just experienced from God with the sacrifice of the many prophets of Baal. He had forgotten that he was not alone against Jezabel, his peace was challenged. When we turn to God, He will nurture relationships, build trust, and demonstrate mercy for our good and for His Glory.

God sent Naomi to Ruth as a companion, their relationship teaches us about commitment and loyalty. Ruth was a Moabite daughter-in-law of a Jewess named Naomi. Ruth’s unwavering commitment to Naomi evident when she refuses to leave her side even after Naomi encourages her to return home. “Whither thou goest, I will go: and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people will be my people. “Ruth 1:16. They had mutual support, despite cultural differences, their relationship also shows the faithfulness of God! People who have been through lots of trauma are grieving, they have been wounded by the trauma, by the betrayal, the rejection. People in pain are prime targets for loneliness. They have not received support from other people in many cases, cultural differences may serve to isolate even more from someone who may truly want to help them. Despite our own pain and struggles, and sense that we are alone-God is always faithful to His people! When we are a beloved child of God, we are never alone!

Seek God and trust Him to help you build relationships like Naomi and Ruth. Seek a meaningful connection with Him. If you have never asked Jesus to be Lord of your life, no time like the present.

Say: Lord forgive me for all sin that separated You and me, I believe in You, and I want you to come into my life and change me forever more! Please fill me with Your love, Your Holy Spirit and lead and guide me forevermore. I know you died for me and rose again so that my life would be changed for all eternity, In Jesus’ mighty name, amen. Now as His beloved child, you will never really be alone again!

Scriptures on loneliness: Isaiah 49:16 Psalms 139:7-10

Thank you for checking in

Margaret

Every one of us has an ability to create something, it’s best not to compare yourself with others, as each one of us has different gifts. Some create great people, some great vegetable farms, some healthy livestock, others art, music, roleplaying, acting, preachers, educators, advocates…. the list is endless. Defining creation: the action or process of bringing something into order or existence: the creation of a government, investing in or creating a new rank, a design, a book, an invention, formation of something, a world, a universe, a symphony, or work of art.

Galatians 6:4-5 reads: “Each of you must examine your own actions. Then you can be proud of your own accomplishments without comparing yourself to others. Assume your own responsibility.

” Romans 12:2 reads: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-His good, pleasing, and perfect will. “

When we compare ourselves to the world’s standards and ideals, we can easily become disillusioned and discontent. God has deposited within each human being the great ability to create. I attribute every creative thing that I have ever done in my life to have been allowed, inspired and empowered by God. He plants things within us that may be of a surprise to you, as it may be the farthest thing from your imagination that you ever thought to do. One day, through life’s circumstances you wake up and say, “Hey- I think I know what I am supposed to do!!”

I was at an awards ceremony this week (Congrats Sammy and Maddy!). There are so many creative young ones, about to graduate, their whole lives ahead of them. Lean in to hear what God has planted within you to do, He will give you the power to do whatever that is-the power and the inspiration to create!

If you do not know who Jesus is, He is the Savior of the world! He came as a man to this earth, God made flesh, to take upon Himself the sin of the world, He took it upon himself to die for our sins, He then rose again, gloriously, just as those who believe in Him will do one day! A chance to live again in Him. Ask Him to take away all your burdens today, and make Him Lord of your life! Only Jesus can make all things new for you! Watch and see what He wants to create through you!!

Though we scurry to beat the clock, we never know what time it really is. Time is valuable, of course ,we are also valuable…In Ephesians 5:15-20 we read, “Act like people with good sense and not like fools. These are evil times, so make every minute count. Don’t be stupid. Instead, find out what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t destroy yourself by getting drunk, but let the Spirit fill your life. When you meet together, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, as you praise the Lord with all your heart. Always use the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to thank God the Father for everything.” When we dedicate our time to the destruction of our bodies, it can produce great physical, emotional, and mental pain in our lives. Sometimes the pain can be a wake up call to say to us it’s time to do something different.

C.S. Lewis quoted “God whispers to us in our pleasure, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains. It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

I believe if we do not obey His voice, His word and what He has instilled for us to do in our conscience, then we can be considered deaf to what He is telling us. His word is our instruction manual, a very important guide to what would otherwise be a very confusing existence. Let Him whisper to you in your pleasure, speak to you in your conscience, and hopefully He will not need a megaphone shouting out our pains. Though pain may come even when you live your life right for God, having Jesus in your life makes everything that happens in life a whole lot more beautiful.

Ask Jesus to forgive you, come and live in you, fill and guide you by His Spirit. He died for you, He rose again, to promise you a new life, that you may have a chance to rise to be with Him. A chance for an eternal life with Jesus. No time better than the present.